Eysenck Personality Questionnaire

Abstract

We describe a newly developed 12-item short form version of the self-report Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) originally developed by Eysenck and Eysenck (1977) and most recently revised by Eysenck, Eysenck, and Barrett (EPQ-R; 1985). The original EPQ consists of 90 items while the EPQ-R involves 36 items. Both instruments were designed to assess three dimensions of personality – extraversion, neuroticism, psychoticism. An understanding of the hierarchical model for personality envisaged by Eysenck (1947) facilitates our explication of these personality dimensions. Eysenck’s system involved four levels. At the lowest level of this system are singly occurring acts or cognitions. Habitual acts or cognitions are at the second level. The third level is composed of traits, defined in terms of significant intercorrelations between different habitual behaviors. The final level is that of personality types or dimensions defined in terms of substantial intercorrelations between traits. Against this backdrop, Eysenck (see Eysenck,1990; Eysenck & Eysenck, 1985) defined extraversion by the observed correlations between the traits sociable, lively, active, assertive, sensation-seeking, carefree, dominant, and venturesome. Neuroticism was defined by the traits anxious, depressed, guilt feelings, low self-esteem, tense, irrational, shy, moody, and emotional. Finally, psychoticism was defined by the traits aggressive, cold, egocentric, impersonal, impulsive, antisocial, unempathic, and tough-minded.Request access from your librarian to read this chapter's full text.

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